classically simple in style, the new master room in a summer house on Massachusetts s North Shore uses timeless subway tile and a palette of fresh white and soothing grays to set a serene tone. ARCHITECTURE + INTERIOR DESIGN CARPENTER & MACNEILLE Ocean-side Oasis Part getaway, part showcase, a custom-designed master offers complete bliss WRITTEN BY CHELSEA CURLEY PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL J. LEE 60 DESIGNNEWENGLAND.COM JULY/AUGUST 2014
Clean aesthetics, industrial tones and elegant finishes from the heart of New York. LIGHTING HARDWARE PLUMBING Boston, MA Natick, MA Providence, RI Westerly, RI Woonsocket, RI 800.485.7500 water-spot.com
the panels on the tub surround match the custom cabinetry that provides storage and organization beneath the casement windows that, like the windows above the whirlpool tub, offer an ocean view. A glass panel separates the tub and shower, which has a glass door. The Luce di Luna stone around the tub was installed as one seamless piece. If the primary purpose of a summer home is to bring together family and friends, the primary function of its master suite is to provide the owners with a private getaway. At least that was the sentiment expressed by one couple who have a son and a large extended family that gathers during the summer at their circa 1887 house on Massachusetts s North Shore, when they undertook a major renovation and expansion of the property. The master was part of an addition to the house, which allowed interior designer Anne Alberts of Carpenter & MacNeille, a design and construction company in Essex, Massachusetts, the flexibility to give the clients an updated, generous space flooded with natural light that works harmoniously with the 19th-century Shingle Style aesthetic of the house. Quality materials and craftsmanship were important to achieve the timeless look the clients wanted, but functionality drove the Photos: Susan Teare Creative Intuitive Functional Efficient Design Solutions. To see more images of our diverse portfolio, please visit our website. Full Service Architectural Design 802-253-2169 Jersey Sound House cushmandesign.com
design. Often there is a very standard layout for a room, and this is a little different, says Alberts, noting her clients requested a separate space for the toilet, which has its own room next to the room; storage in the form of built-in cabinets, drawers, and a sizable walk-in closet; and an area for a washer and dryer. In the room itself, a custom vanity holds his-and-her sinks, and a matching set of cabinets and drawers sits below casement windows that look out to the ocean. This sleek storage system, painted off-white, is finished with the homeowners choice of hardware in polished nickel by Hamilton Sinkler. Soothing grays, soft whites, and pale blues make up the neutral palette inspired by the Luce di Luna stone around the whirlpool tub, which Alberts had installed in one piece rather than in segments, as is usually done. Though tricky for the contracting side of Carpenter & MacNeille, the result brings an elegant touch to the room. Alberts also used the stone for the vanity top and for shelves the double vanity is also topped with Luce di Luna stone. The sconces add a contemporary touch. Custom cabinetry beneath the his-and-hers sinks allows for ample and handy storage. In the hallway outside the room, built-in shelving and drawers designed to match the room s cabinetry provide an inventive interpretation of the traditional linen closet. SPLASH no touch flush SPRITZO Make a Splash.
a window and a glass panel and door allow the walk-in shower (above) to be filled with natural light. The marbling in the stone around the tub (facing page, top) inspired the gray-and-white palette. The shower (facing page, bottom) has a stone seat and a custom-designed hand wand. above the tub and in the shower stall, a 4-by-6-foot oasis that boasts three shower heads: the standard wall mount, a rain shower centered in the ceiling, and a custom-made hand wand, all by Waterworks. For a more open feel, Alberts selected a glass shower door and a half wall facing out to the vanity. Smoky gray 12-by- 12-inch floor tiles repeat in smaller 2-by- 2-inch squares custom-cut for the shower floor. The room is tied together with unifying 1¾-by-6-inch white subway tiles, which wrap the walls and line the shower. Window placement was an important consideration. The homeowners wanted to be able to appreciate the view, but not be viewed, says Alberts. Traditionalstyle shutters by Back Bay Shutter Co. of Woburn, Massachusetts, on the windows above the tub allow for plenty of light but also provide privacy. The casement windows above the custom cabinetry are set high for the same reason. Alberts focused on the exact placement of sconces, recessed lighting, and special illumination above the tub (for reading while soaking) and made sure the subway tiles lined up perfectly with the vanity. The window above the tub is also at the optimum height to maximize the view.
Such attention to detail ultimately makes the space award-winning. (It took first place for residential s at the American Society of Interior Designers New England Excellence in Design Awards last fall.) for more details, see resources And the room provides the owners with a feeling of complete serenity. A small window in the shower admits the calming sound of the sea and the fresh ocean air. From time to time, if the sun is in exactly the right position, there will be a small rainbow arcing through the water droplets of the shower, says one of the homeowners. Bliss.
places ARCHITECTURE HENRY VAUGHAN young english architect Henry Vaughan mounted a scaffold to paint the interior of his first church. The ceiling has a repeating pattern of five-petal Tudor roses. The wallpaper of William Morris inspired the two-dimensional floral painting on the altar wall. Gothic Grace Modesty meets exquisite detail in a transcendent 1883 church in coastal Maine WRITTEN BY WILLIAM MORGAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY SCOTT DORRANCE 66 DESIGNNEWENGLAND.COM JULY/AUGUST 2014